Equipment financed through the program must have a useful life of at least 5 years. The repayment (amortization) will not exceed the useful life of the equipment being financed. The maximum financing term that may be requested is 10 years. The program finances equipment such as rolling stock (e.g., automobiles, trucks, public safety vehicles) and computer hardware and software. Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the District may issue various obligations to finance its capital needs.

Financing through the program begins with a financing company paying for the purchase of equipment for the District’s use. The District makes lease payments to the financing company for such equipment, which are in effect principal and interest payments on the amount financed, and the District gains ownership of the equipment upon completion of the payments. As of September 30, 2015, the District had financed approximately $526 million of its capital equipment needs through the program.Timely payments are necessary to satisfy the District’s commitments to its investors and creditors and to maintain a good credit standing in the financial markets. Appropriations for the program are budgeted from Local funds in amounts sufficient to meet the required payments.